Chapter 3 – No Place Left in Society
"Miss Lyra, I haven't left this forest in a long time. I'd like to know what the outside world is like now. Could you tell me about your family and the general situation out there?"
Lyra curled up in the corner of the room, hugging her knees with both hands. Although her mood was grim, she still chatted with Altair. Perhaps such conversation could ease her fear for a while.
During the exchange, Altair also learned that Miss Lyra's full name was Lyra Rejerson. She was the daughter of Earl Rejerson, whose territory bordered the Misty Forest. Because she was born of the legal wife and possessed an innate special talent, she was deeply loved by Earl Rejerson.
This time, she and her party had hurried to Duke Nass's domain to attend the birthday banquet of the Duke's daughter. They had taken a shortcut through the outskirts of the Misty Forest, fallen into a trap, and were captured by the goblins roaming there.
The Misty Forest was a vast forest inhabited by beasts, bordering many domains and neighboring countries. The region they were in now, crawling with goblins, bordered the domains of Earl Rejerson and Earl Hansen.
The direct territory of Duke Nass also bordered the outskirts of the Misty Forest, but there dwelled the Dire Wolves, different from the goblins here.
There was another domain between Earl Rejerson and Duke Nass, and this earl was not on good terms with Earl Rejerson. The other side might deliberately make things difficult for them when they crossed paths, preventing them from attending the Duke's daughter's birthday.
They resorted to this desperate shortcut through the goblin-infested area. At first, they thought ordinary goblins couldn't possibly defeat the trained guards of the Rejerson Earldom.
Who would have thought that a Purple Goblin and two White Goblins would suddenly appear, setting traps along the road from the very beginning, throwing their formation into chaos. In the end, the goblins only paid the price of a few green goblins' deaths, yet managed to capture her alive.
The Duke had prepared a grand birthday celebration for his daughter, and the surrounding marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons were obliged to bring people to the banquet to build momentum for the Duke's daughter.
Moreover, nobles could use this opportunity to let their sons, both of age and underage, attempt to court the Duke's daughter. If they succeeded, their future would be limitless.
Undoubtedly, the news that Miss Lyra was absent and had been kidnapped by goblins would spread at the grand banquet, and by then, her entire social life would be destroyed…
"Wuwuwu…" At this point, Miss Lyra began crying again.
She would soon die and be socially ruined as well. This was the great crisis she now faced.
However, when Altair heard what Lyra said, it also rang alarm bells in his heart.
Lyra was captured by goblins because she was going to attend the Duke's daughter's birthday. The Duke, ruling over a duchy, could not sit idly by. He would surely send people to rescue Miss Lyra and exterminate the goblins rampaging here.
The existence of the Purple Goblin and White Goblins would surely make those people more cautious. By then, it might not only be adventurers but also trained troops, even the kingdom's great magi.
The only good news for now was that the duchy was not nearby, and even if they sent people, it would take at least ten days to half a month.
The one most likely to send people quickly was the ruler of the Rejerson Earldom. As for Earl Hansen, caught between Rejerson and the direct domain of Duke Nass, he would most likely choose to stay put and watch. In this way, the enemy would not be immune, and they themselves could not be easily discovered in the unfamiliar misty forest.
By the time people from the kingdom arrived, they might already have escaped.
As for returning Lyra to appease the other side's anger, that was impossible. A thug with a gang was already enough to threaten a noble's territory. If he slapped the noble and kidnapped his daughter, even if he sent her back claiming it was unintentional, the other side would still have to consider the consequences, regardless of his own pride.
On the contrary, doing so would most likely expose his existence to the outside humans. The young girl foolishly did not recognize him, but others might once they heard the description.
Once his existence was known to the world, what awaited would not be the kingdom sending people here, but the kingdom—or even the empire's army—marching in!
Regardless of race, the appearance of an advanced individual would raise vigilance from humans and other races, unless that individual belonged to arrogant dragons or angels.
Altair did not know what other terrifying powers and races existed in the outside world, and Lyra could no longer continue the conversation. Now was not the time to relax and plan for the future; they had to act swiftly.
"You're frightened. Rest quickly. I'll prepare warm, delicious food to comfort you later."
Altair gave Lyra several fur cloaks, comforted her with a few words, then left the cave chamber.
When he stepped outside, Altair's expression suddenly became much calmer. The goblins around him lowered their heads and crawled on the ground, showing their submission.
In just seven days, Altair had grown from a tiny newborn weighing a few kilograms into a fourteen-year-old youth, nearly double the size.
Individual Name: Golden Emperor Goblin (Kaelar)
Age: Unlimited
Attack, Vitality, Impact Resistance
It was somewhat unrealistic to expect these goblins—whose combined intelligence did not exceed thirty points—to understand and carry out his intentions.
It would be up to the Purple Goblin to make step-by-step arrangements.
When the old Purple Goblin heard Altair's words, he muttered something and pointed toward a certain direction outside the cave.
"Is there another goblin team there?"